That was what bothered me. I’d put Luke and his people in danger and they were all still trying to protect me. I wasn’t the only one who needed protecting.
As I walked down the stairs, I let out another sigh and prayed something of today could be salvaged. Luke ended his call and let out a deep breath. I heard him in the kitchen and slowly made my way there, uncertain of what to say or do. Truthfully, after this morning, all I wanted was to hold him in my arms and not let go.
I walked into the kitchen and saw Luke leaning against the counter, holding his cell phone tightly. He looked up at me and I gasped quietly, hoping he didn’t notice. The chill in his eyes scared me. There wasn’t a hint of warmth behind his green eyes. Whatever was haunting him had completely extinguished the gleam that usually rested behind his gaze and even the sight of me did nothing to bring it back.
“You find out about Mitch?” I asked.
The room was thick with tension that I could do nothing to change. He placed his cell on the granite counter and turned toward the window as he shook his head. Standing behind him, I rubbed his shoulders in a circular motion hoping to relax him. He’d already showered and changed since he’d come home and was dressed in a blue T-shirt and jeans.
I pressed my cheek to his back and felt the warmth of his body come through the cotton. I circled my arms around his waist and held him as I thought about what to say.
“It’s not your fault,” I whispered. “You can’t protect everyone all the time.”
“The least I can do is protect my employees and the people I love,” he said, after a few moments of quiet.
Luke slowly turned around and his gaze found mine. I took a step back, but he pulled me in closer and pressed his lips against my hair, placing a gentle kiss on the top of my head.
“Don’t do that to yourself. Your employees know the risks of working at your firm. They understand the dangers of their job.”
“What about you?” Luke asked. “Should I expect you to deal with the risks of being associated with me?”
I shook my head and lifted my head to meet his gaze. “There are no risks associated with being with you. At least none I’ve read about,” I teased. “Shouldn’t I be the one with the disclaimer?”
He cracked a half-smile and shook his head. “I really don’t deserve you.”
“I could say the same.”
“But it wouldn’t be true,” he murmured.
His eyes darkened, and he let out a deep breath before picking up his cell and glancing at the screen. “Still nothing from Sam. I’m going to start showing up at hospitals if I don’t hear from him soon.”
I nodded and dropped my gaze. “So who’s behind this? I know you’re not telling us everything.”
He shut his eyes as he tilted his head back and let out a groan. “You and my sister are relentless.”
“Under the circumstances I don’t think it’s asking too much. We both care about you and if someone was able to put Mitch in the hospital, it makes my mind go to such dark places. The thought of something happening to you is more than I can handle. It really is.”
I traced my finger along his jaw, feeling the stubble against my fingertip as I looked into his green eyes, patiently waiting for an answer that I knew wouldn’t come. That was how it was with Luke.
“I’m not hiding anything from you two. I just don’t know enough. I’m trying not to jump to conclusions. That’s how I’ve always gotten into trouble.” Luke’s eyes softened as his gaze met mine. A faint smile touched his lips as he held my hands in his. “This isn’t how I imagined this day.”
“That makes two of us.”
“We should start over. Have you opened your gift?” The glint in his eyes surfaced so quickly I almost missed it.
I shook my head and smiled. “I wanted to wait until we were together to open it.”
“Well, go get it.” The tinge of excitement in his voice made my nerves ignite. What had he planned?
As I walked to the foyer, I pulled Luke with me and spotted my purse and the Tiffany Blue bag poking out the top.
“I hope you like it. When I saw it, I thought of you immediately.”
“You picked it out yourself?” I asked, pulling the bag out of my purse.
“Of course I did. Who else would pick out something for you?” His brows shot up and he grinned.
“Kimberly?” I volunteered his assistant’s name.
“That’s not how I operate.” His smile sent me to the moon as I slowly pulled the blue box out of the bag. A silver bow of satin ribbon completed the wrap, and my heart beat quickly as I analyzed the shape of the box. It was too small for a necklace and there was no way it was a ring so maybe it was earrings?
“You could just open it, you know,” he laughed, but I detected the exhaustion in his voice.
“And where would the fun be in that?” I asked, giving a slight tug on the silver ribbon as I watched the bow fall away from the box.
Out of nowhere, my fingers began to tremble as I slowly opened the box. Luke took a step closer and my breath caught at the sight in front of me. My hands worked the ties on the small felt bag, and I slid the bag down to reveal a stunning piece. He had picked out a beautiful sterling silver infinity cuff that caught the light from above and sparkled brilliantly.
“Do you like it?” he asked. I could detect a hint of concern in his voice, which was completely endearing.
I nodded in awe. “You didn’t have to do this…”
“Turn it over,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around my waist as he stood behind me. He nestled his chin against the crook of my neck and shoulder and my body quivered from the closeness.
This was what I’d imagined for a homecoming. This was what I wanted to remember from this day. Nothing else.
A life for us
A place for us
To end each day with you
in my arms is all
I ever pray for
~LF
I read his words several times—his poetry—and my eyes filled with tears.
“I had no idea you wrote poetry,” I whispered.
“I don’t.”
“You did and it’s beautiful.” I slipped the cuff onto my wrist and felt his whiskers scrape down my neck as he placed kisses along my skin.
“I never want to go another day without you here with me.”
“Paris was your idea,” I teased, feeling his mouth move smoothly on my exposed skin.
“It was Mia’s idea.”
“It was torture,” I confessed.
“Paris was torture?”
“Not being with you was torture. Seeing all of those romantic sights and not having you with me was excruciating. Gazing longingly at Mia did little for either of us, and I think by the end of it she got a little sketched out,” I chuckled.
Luke smiled and spun me around slowly. “We’ll just have to take our own trip to Paris.”
“Once I’m out of school…”
Luke groaned slightly and smiled as his lips teased mine. “I can’t believe I’m about to start dating someone in college. I’ve turned into one of those guys.”
“You like that idea, don’t you?” I laughed.
“Maybe you can get me into some college parties?” His brow arched slightly.
“You wish.”
“Actually, I think someone my age showing up would just shut the place down.”
“Doubtful. You’re not that much older than me. How do you think I feel going back when everyone my age already has their degree?”
“You should feel confident and proud of yourself. At least you know what you want out of life. Most of the people graduating don’t. They just get some generic degree and trip and fall into place.”
“Nothing wrong with that as long as they have a place to land.” I smiled, realizing I actually had a place to land. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d find comfort and a place to call home so soon after everything and everyone I’d fled back home. But I did and
it was with Luke.
Luke’s hands skated along my sides, and my body melted into his. His fingers slid along my arms, creating another wave of longing, and I wondered if I’d be able to wait until everything settled down. Our eyes connected, and the spark in his told me I wasn’t alone. I couldn’t hide my grin as he pressed his forehead to mine.
“You’re driving me absolutely insane,” I murmured.
Luke let a little moan slip from his lips as he pressed his body against mine and my arms circled his neck.
“Are you sure with everything—”
Luke’s mouth interrupted my question, and I tasted the sweetness of his lips as his kiss deepened. The longer I stayed in his arms it was as if everything else in our world fell away. In his embrace, I felt protected and far from the people I’d tried so hard to leave behind. It was a false sense of security. What happened this morning was a grave reminder of what we would continue to face until everyone was identified and captured. But I wouldn’t let them take away this moment. I wouldn’t give them that power.
My hands glided down Luke’s chest as his lips broke from mine, and he took a step back. His eyes ran along my body and I felt completely alive with desire as a smile etched his lips.
“I need you.” I watched the motion of his lips as they rested on the world ‘you’.
“Need is a strong word,” I whispered.
“Not strong enough,” he replied, as my gaze fell to his lips once more.
Before I knew what happened, he’d slipped his arms around my waist and pushed me against the wall. His hands swept along my stomach as he tugged on the hem of my shirt, lifting it quickly over my head and tossing it on the floor.
Luke’s gaze was intense as he looked into my eyes, searching for permission I’d given him long ago. His finger slowly tipped my chin up before his lips brushed against mine. His hands skirted behind my back and unfastened my bra in a swift motion that made my body respond to the slightest touch. I ran my fingers through his hair and brought his mouth back to mine.
His kisses intensified as his hands cupped my breasts, and I was thankful I was pressed between Luke and the wall. My knees were weak with longing as his fingers caressed the tenderness of my skin, working my world into an amazing rhythm of pleasure, and he was still fully clothed.
I let out a little moan of pleasure at the thought and I felt him smile. Just as his lips moved away from mine, he continued his spell over me as his mouth trailed down my collarbone to my breasts. My body shuddered as his mouth tugged and teased me with such wickedness all I could do was delight in being back in California in my man’s arms.
I felt his fingers work their way along my waistband as he slid my pants down, giving me a slight reprieve as I quickly unfastened the button on his jeans.
“You don’t get to have all the fun,” I told him.
He flashed a wry grin and shook his head as I worked his jeans down and brought him toward me.
“I was so scared this morning,” I whispered, as I lifted his shirt over his head. “You can’t keep things from me. No. Matter. What. Promise?”
“It’s not fair to make a man promise things in this situation,” he murmured.
I smiled and ran my fingers down his abdomen and stopped short. “I need you to promise me that no matter what you face, it won’t be alone. I won’t break. You have to tell me everything, always, in order for this to work.”
His eyes darkened a shade, and he reluctantly agreed, giving me a short nod as my hand slid lower. A low groan escaped his mouth as my lips pressed to his. He quickly slid my panties down and cupped my bottom as he lifted me up and pressed me against the wall. I wrapped my legs around his waist and felt the firmness I so desperately craved. Feeling the heat of his skin against mine created a connection like no other as his gaze fastened on mine.
My world crumbled as he kissed me with a driving need that unfastened every part of me. What his touch did to me was unfathomable in the real world, but I had to remind myself that he was my real world. This was real. He was real. Everything about us was real.
“I love you, Hannah Walker,” he whispered, as his fingers slowly stroked me in a steady rhythm, sensitizing every part of me.
Wishing our world was as simple and pure as this one act defined my very being. Falling in love with Luke Fletcher made my future feel more solid. I didn’t exist because of him, but I became a better person for him.
“I love you more, Luke.” He pressed deeper into me, and my world exploded into a frenzied existence built on love. This was what life was about, and I wanted to relish every second of it. Luke’s hands gripped my hips, and I felt his breathing change as our bodies became one. Replacing the fear from this morning with the love I had for Luke made my body ache more for him. My nails dug into his shoulders as he continued making love to me, and I thought about coming so close to losing him and us that I felt the first tear escape. I promised myself that even in the madness of our world, I would always savor every minute I had with Luke Fletcher.
Luke
“This is just the beginning,” Mitch said.
He was lying in the hospital bed hooked to tubes, and hoses hung from the bed draining bodily fluids to different colored bags. A white sheet was draped across his body and a blanket was shoved down over his feet. It was hard to see one of my guys like this. His face had swollen even more since I’d last seen him, but bandages now covered up some of the gashes. At this point, I guess I should be happy we were both here instead of in tiny pieces in the basement.
Frustration bubbled in my veins as I thought about what to do next. I’d always prided myself on being one step ahead, but now I was playing catch up.
“What makes you say that?” I asked, scooting the metal chair closer to the bed.
“I’ve never seen hate like that before. I know I’m lucky to be alive and so are you. Whatever it is they want…” his voice trailed off.
“They think I’m in possession of something, and I’m not.” I shoved my hand along the side of my head and squeezed my temples in frustration. “That’s gotta be it.”
“I don’t know what your buddy Sam thinks he can do to help, but I can guarantee you it’s not much. They had plenty of opportunities to take me out, Luke. I’m lucky to be alive.”
“This was just a message. A message I hear loud and clear. I get that.” I let out a deep breath and thought about how very few options I had. “I don’t expect you to come back right away if at—”
“Are you serious?” Mitch almost jumped off the bed. “I’m gonna take these bastards out. The joy of seeing the same fear in their eyes as they saw in mine is a moment I now live for. The moment the docs let me out of here…” Mitch’s jaw clenched, and I saw the fire behind his gaze.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was relieved to hear him say that. He was one of my best men, which made it all the more difficult to understand how they’d gotten to him. Mia and Hannah were here at the hospital with me, and I had Chad on duty watching over them in the waiting room. Only one visitor at a time was allowed in to see Mitch. Mia didn’t squawk like she usually did over added security so I can only assume she understood the gravity of the situation.
“If these people were able to pull off one of the largest art heists in history and managed to escape capture up till this point, there’s a large network of people enabling them,” I said, glancing at the clock. Another specialist was scheduled to appear in thirty minutes, but I needed that time to get my head wrapped around what Mitch might have seen. Sam’s men had already been in and questioned him to death, but I knew he saved some for me. He had a distaste for anyone connected with the government.
“But something is making them nervous or they wouldn’t keep reappearing in your lives,” Mitch said. “Or like you said, they think you have something they want.”
I sat back in the chair and tented my arms behind my head to relieve the unforgiving tension. “I’ve never sold my parents’ cabin in Flagstaff.”
&
nbsp; Mitch nodded. “I know. Do you think it holds the answer?”
My parents lived a double life, which made it extremely difficult as a kid growing up. Months would go by without seeing them. Once I joined the bureau, I was able to find out so much more about my parents’ lives than they’d ever let on, but so much of the information led to absolutely nowhere, except to a cabin they had in Flagstaff. It was paid for and had about twenty acres surrounding the place. I’d only been there once after their deaths. Maybe it was time to go back.
“I need to persuade Mia and Hannah to go into hiding.”
“Boss, that’s not gonna happen. Especially not with Mia. I can’t even get her to turn on the alarm at her own house. For that matter, Hannah’s about as stubborn.” Mitch shook his head and readjusted his iv tubes.
“They may not have a choice. And once I explain to them who is behind this, I think they’ll understand the reasoning. It’s not a stretch to say they’re in as much—if not more—danger than most of us.”
“I wouldn’t start the discussion off that way,” Mitch chuckled. His voice was getting hoarse from too much talking.
“I never would, and I didn’t mean it the way it came out. Those two are stronger than most men I’ve encountered. But I’m sure they’ll be the next targets. That’s why I dragged them here.” I smiled. “I don’t want them out of my sight.”
“It wasn’t to visit poor, old Mitch?” The gleam in his eye reflected the Mitch I knew.
“Well, partly.”
A speaker in the hall crackled as I glanced toward the door and saw two security guards rushing toward the stairwell. My body stiffened as the announcement came over the system. It was as if we were in another world. Everything went into slow motion.
“Code silver. Room 227. Requesting all available staff for code silver. No restraints. Room 227ER.” The woman’s voice was calm as the words juggled in my mind. My gaze flashed to Mitch’s and I knew in my heart it was a trap.
Buried Sins Page 4
